tat·too [tattootattoostattooedtattooing] noun, verb BrE [təˈtuː] NAmE [tæˈtuː] noun (pl. tat·toos) 1. a picture or design that is marked permanently on a person's skin by making small holes in the skin with a needle and filling them with coloured ink •His arms were covered in tattoos. •She has a tattoo of a tiger on her shoulder. 2. (especially BrE)an outdoor show by members of the armed forces that includes marching, music and military exercises •the Edinburgh military tattoo 3. usually singular a rapid and continuous series of taps or hits, especially on a drum as a military signal •The drummers beat a tattoo each morning. •Her fingers tapped a light tattoo on the table. •George felt his heart begin to beat a tattoo against his ribs.
Word Origin: n. senses 2 to 3 mid 17th cent. tap-too Dutch taptoe! ‘close the tap (of the cask)!’ n. sense 1 and v. mid 18th cent. Tahitian Tongan Samoan ta-tau Marquesan ta-tu
Collocations: Clothes and fashion Clothes be wearing a new outfit/bright colours/fancy dress/fur/uniform be (dressed) in black/red/jeans and a T-shirt/your best suit/leather/silk/rags (= very old torn clothes) be dressed for work/school/dinner/a special occasion be dressed as a man/woman/clown/pirate wear/dress in casual/designer/second-hand clothes wear jewellery/(especially US) jewelry/accessories/a watch/glasses/contact lenses/perfume have a cowboy hat/red dress/blue suit on put on/take off your clothes/coat/shoes/helmet pull on/pull off your coat/gloves/socks change into/get changed into a pair of jeans/your pyjamas/(especially US) your pajamas Appearance change/enhance/improve your appearance create/get/have/give sth a new/contemporary/retro look brush/comb/shampoo/wash/blow-dry your hair have/get a haircut/your hair cut/a new hairstyle have/get a piercing/your nose pierced have/get a tattoo/a tattoo done (on your arm)/a tattoo removed have/get a makeover/cosmetic surgery use/wear/apply/put on make-up/cosmetics Fashion follow/keep up with (the) fashion/the latest fashions spend/waste money on designer clothes be fashionably/stylishly/well dressed have good/great/terrible/awful taste in clothes update/revamp your wardrobe be in/come into/go out of fashion be (back/very much) in vogue create a style/trend/vogue for sth organize/put on a fashion show show/unveil a designer's spring/summer collection sashay/strut down the catwalk/(NAmE also) runway be on/do a photo/fashion shoot
Example Bank: •He sported a barbed-wire tattoo on his left arm. •I took to wearing a temporary tattoo on my ankle. •I've decided to get my tattoo removed. •She had a tattoo of a swallow on her shoulder. •She's having a tattoo done on her leg.
verb to mark sb's skin with a ↑tattoo •~ A on B He had a heart tattooed on his shoulder. •~ B (with A) His shoulder was tattooed with a heart. Verb forms:
Word Origin: n. senses 2 to 3 mid 17th cent. tap-too Dutch taptoe! ‘close the tap (of the cask)!’ n. sense 1 and v. mid 18th cent. Tahitian Tongan Samoan ta-tau Marquesan ta-tu
Example Bank: •He had snakes and dragons tattooed on his arms •His body was heavily tattooed.
